Countercurrent 1982

Chapter 1521 Vincent

If Duan Yun was facing a large multinational company, he would definitely not show his identity and negotiate with the other party like this. But for a small company like ASML that is in development difficulties, he can negotiate straight to the point.

In Duan Yun's view, ASML's establishment of a branch in Hong Kong, which has no production base in the microelectronics industry, is obviously a ulterior motive, and this branch has been in Hong Kong for so long, so it should know their machines It was not installed in Hong Kong, and no investigation was carried out on this matter. It can be seen that the senior management of ASML should have turned a blind eye and acquiesced to this matter.

After all, currently in the international arena, ASML can only be regarded as a small player in the field of lithography machines. With the US lithography machine company and Japan’s Nikon almost dominating the entire lithography machine market, ASML can only survive between the cracks. To keep the only European lithography machine company, ASML executives can only sell their products through gray channels.

In fact, when ASML set up a branch in Hong Kong, they subconsciously wanted to push their products to the four Asian tigers, the Soviet Union, and mainland China. Even in their product introductions, some low-end machines even directly marked that there was no export restriction. The intention is self-evident.

The reason why Duan Yun thought of bribing Vincent, the director of the Hong Kong branch, was mainly because he wanted to lay a hidden stake in ASML and pave the way for a long-term cooperation between the two parties in the future.

The reality is that at this time, ASML was not tied by the Americans. ASML was really controlled by the Americans. At first, it was because the United States organized an alliance called EUV LLC in 1997. The companies in this alliance All of them are well-known companies, such as Intel, the US Department of Energy, Motorola AMD, IBM, and even the three major national laboratories in the United States, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Sandia National Laboratory, and Lawrence Berkeley Experiment These laboratories are behind-the-scenes leaders who promote the development of American science and technology. Nuclear weapons, supercomputers, and the National Ignition Device are all created by these laboratories. The purpose of the Americans' alliance is very simple. Technology, occupying the high ground of the market.

These franchised companies and laboratories are full of experts, but there is still one link, an optical technology company with sufficient technology and clean political background.

It was also against this background that Asmer, who had no political background, was drawn into this alliance. Asmer was very smooth, and immediately embraced the thigh of the United States, and offered to agree to set up a factory and a R&D center in the United States. At the same time, it also guarantees that 55% of the components are purchased from American companies, and the US government has the right to review regularly.

As a result, ASML from the Netherlands changed his mind and joined the US Semiconductor Alliance, becoming a half-American company. At this time, ASML was really firmly tied to the United States, and it has maintained strict technical control over mainland China for a long time. blockade.

It was with the support of American technology and talents that Asmer quickly broke through the progress of 193nm lithography machines, defeated Nikon, and lost its technological advantages. Coupled with the US-Japan semiconductor agreement, it lost the support of the Japanese government. Nikon finally lost to the United States and brought an end to Japan's semiconductor chronicle.

But before 1997, ASML was just an ordinary European technology company, and they still had to find a way to survive. Although the fire at TSMC in the previous year brought a glimmer of life to their company, they were faced with far stronger funds and talents than themselves. In the United States, Japan's lithography machine company, Asmer can only gain a chance in the next round of competition by frantically expanding its business.

The main reason why Vincent accepted Duan Yun's "bribery" was that as the director of the Hong Kong branch, he was also under great sales pressure. Since last year, he had traveled to Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand Southeast Asian countries, and also went to South Korea to negotiate with local government officials, hoping that they can purchase ASML lithography machines, but in the end they found nothing.

This time, a business came to the door on its own initiative, and seeing Duan Yun's generous spending, it seemed that the background was extraordinary, which aroused Vincent's great interest. Although accepting commercial bribes is a stain, if Duan Yun can really buy their company products without harming the interests of the company, then Vincent will undoubtedly be the hero of the company, and will greatly consolidate or even enhance its position in ASML.

As for the American technology blockade, Vincent has a unique way to deal with it. In fact, throughout the 80s, many technology companies in European and American countries quietly sold some technical equipment to China at high prices through this transit station in Hong Kong. The mainland even includes some sensitive military technology, which is actually an open secret in Hong Kong.

It can be said that Hong Kong has played an important role as an important fulcrum for mainland China both before and after the reform and opening up. The key factor is that Hong Kong is an important "strategic fulcrum".

"Wait a minute." At this time Vincent threw a cigar to Duan Yun, got up and walked to the door, looked around the corridor, and then locked the door.

"Pa-ta!" Duan Yun also took out a lighter at this time, lit the cigar and smoked it.

Afterwards, the two had a conversation in the reception room.

This time, the two finally started substantive negotiations, including the model of the ordered product, performance, equipment price, transportation cost, and the docking company after arriving in Hong Kong.

To Duan Yun's surprise, Vincent was very familiar with the smuggling of goods from Hong Kong to the mainland, and the equipment transportation plan he proposed was even more perfect than Duan Yun imagined, so Duan Yun suspected that this Vincent used to specialize in engaged in smuggling.

In fact, Duan Yun still underestimated Vincent's mind. This 1-meter tall man seems to act casually, not like a stable person, but his business mind is indeed very good, and he fully understands ASML. With the positioning of setting up a branch in Hong Kong, it is no wonder that ASML’s senior management will appoint him to head the office in Hong Kong.

"Mr. Duan, I'm very glad to have talked with you so much today. Next, I will go back to the Netherlands and discuss with the president of our company. Once there is a result, I will contact you as soon as possible." After the conversation, Wen Center said to Duan Yun.

"Then I'll just wait for the good news." Duan Yun smiled slightly upon hearing this.

The next moment, the two shook hands, and Vincent sent Duan Yun out of the company. After waving goodbye, Duan Yun left ASML's office by car...

(End of this chapter)